Container



F. M. RICCI Sept. 12, 1967 CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Nov. 9,1964 O JO O O O O O O 0 0 O 0 O O O O 3a ZZZ 2&2.

0 O O 0 O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O I JW/a m. Haifa/1% 2/667,

F. M. RICCI CONTAINER Sept. 12, 1967 Filed Nov. 9, 1964 4 Sh ets-Sheet 4M Ma M M m V2 7 y, A /M w u u a w I United States Patent 3,341,064CONTAINER Fausto M. Ricci, 1090 Carolyn Way, Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210Filed Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,744 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-97) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A container manufactured of thermoplastic material havinga base containing a plurality of vertical openings traversing the base,the base being suspended between end walls and side walls having adepression about their top edge, the side walls having lateral openingstherethrough above the base and a cover removably disposed in thedepression and forming lateral openings with said side walls allowingcirculation of air vertically and laterally through the container.

My invention relates to the improvement in container, and particularlyto light weight containers manufactured of expanded polystyrene or otherthermoplastic material built for usage in the transportation and storageof fruits and vegetables; and the objects are, first, to provide acontainer manufactured of thermoplastic or equivalent material suitablefor the transportation and storage of fruits and vegetables betweenwholesaler and retailer; second, to provide a container for thetransportation of fruits and vegetables and the like, permitting accessof air to the materials to be transported or stored, and permittingaccumulated moisture to be eliminated from the container duringtransportation and storage; third, to provide a container for thetransportation and storage of fruits or vegetables and the like, whichduring transportation and storage may be stacked vertically with othercontainers of similar construction, and providing for the stability ofsuch stacks by appropriate features embodied in the construction withoutinterference with air circulation through the materials transported orstored; fourth, to provide a light weight container manufactured ofthermoplastic or equivalent material, permitting the free circulation ofair through the materials transported or stored while permitting thedrainage of accumulated moisture from such materials.

Additional objects, together with further advantages derived inutilizing the present invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description thereof taken together with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of the specification, in which FIGURE 1 is aview in the perspective of my container;

FIGURE 2 is a plane view of my container illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of my containertaken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plane view of the bottom of a modified form of mycontainer;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a corner of my containerillustrated in FIGURE 1 showing storage connections with a similarcontainer stacked on top of my container;

FIGURE 6 is a modified form of the floor of my container;

FIGURE 7 is a modified form of the floor of my container;

FIGURE 8 is a modified form of the floor of my container;

FIGURE 9 is a modified form of my container providing a modifiedarrangement for stacking and a modified floor for drainage and aeration;

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FIGURE 10 is a plane view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational cross-sectional view ofa portion of my container illustrated in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the floorused in my container illustrated in FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 13 is a view in the perspective of a modified form of mycontainer having enlarged vent openings disposed in the side wallsthereof;

FIGURE 14 is a plane view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 13,partly broken away and using a cover;

FIGURE 15 is an elevational view of the containes illustrated in FIGURE13 partially broken away and in section and showing the use of a cover;and

FIGURE 16 is an elevational fragmentary view of the containerillustrated in FIGURE 13 partially broken away and in section, using amodified form of a cover.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My invention, described in the accompanying drawings, and particularlyin the form illustrated in the FIG- URES 1 through 8, comprisesgenerally a base 10 integrally connected to -U-shaped end panels 11, 12,side panels connecting the end panels and the base and corner framesupports of triangular cross-section provided at the junction of the endpanels and side panels, all integrally connected and manufactured ofthermoplastic material.

The base illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 is comprised of verticaltransverse sections 13 having a horizontal top portion 14- and upwardlyindented lower portion 15 integrally joined alternately to sections 16having a downwardly indented top portion 17 and a horizontal bottomportion 18.

Openings 19 extend vertically through the first named section and arespaced a predetermined distance apart transversely, and comprise a coneshaped opening 20 joined to a cylindrical opening 21, the cone shapedopening being located in the upwardly indented lower portion 15 of thesection 13. The adjacent alternate sections 16 contain vertical openings22 spaced a predetermined distance apart transversely, and comprise acone shaped opening 23 centered in the downwardly indented top portion17 joined to a cylindrical opening 24.

U-shaped end panels 11, 12 are integrally joined to the ends of therectangular base 10 and extend upwardly therefrom a predetermineddistance.

Side panels 25, 26 are integrally joined to the rectangular base 10 andextend upwardly therefrom a predetermined distance, and are integrallyjoined to the free end of the end panels 11, 12 and form with said endpanels a U-shaped cut out 27.

Corner frames upports 28 are provided at the joinder of each side panel25, 26 and end panels 11, 12, and have a triangular shaped cross-sectionand are raised above the level of the end panels for a predetermineddistance. A triangular shaped indentation 29 provided in the base 10below each corner frame support 28, and in alignment therewith isprovided to receive the raised portion of corner frame support ofanother container when stacked together for the purpose oftransportation or storage. A cylindrical opening 30 extendslongitudinally through each corner frame support 28.

A modified form of the base, as illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawing,comprises a horizontal top surface 31 having transverse semi-cylindricalparallel channels 32 spaced a predetermined distance apart.

A cylindrical opening 33 is provided in the center of each portionbetween adjacent channels, and extends vertically downward and having anenlarged diameter 34 at the horizontal bottom surface.

The modified form of my base 10, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, has a topsurface as previously described, and shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing,and a corrugated bottom surface consisting of parallel equally spacedcurved ridges 35 and hollows 36, the ridges 35 being positioned belowthe downwardly indented top portion 17 of the top surface of the base10, and the hollows 36 being positioned below the horizontal top portion14 of the base 10. Vertical openings 37, extending from the hollows tothe top surface, and vertical openings 38, extending from the downwardlyindented top portion 17 to the curved ridges 35 are shaped as previouslydescribed in connection with the base as illustrated in FIGURE 3 of thedrawing.

A modified form of my base 10, as illustrated in FIG- URE 8 of thedrawing, comprises a horizontal top surface 39 and a bottom surface 40comprising parallel equally spaced horizontal ridges 41 and beveledhorizontal grooves 42. Cylindrical openings 43 are countersunk at thehorizontal top surface extending vertically through the base to thecenter of each horizontal ridge 41 and beveled grooves 42 which openingsare spaced transversely across the base a predetermined distance apart.

The modified form of my invention, illustrated in FIG- URES 9 to 12inclusive, generally comprises a base 50 integrally connected toU-sha-ped end panels 51, 52 and extending upwardly therefrom apredetermined distance. Side panels 53, 54 are integrally joined to therectangular base 50 and extend upwardly therefrom a predetermineddistance, and are integrally joined to the free ends of the end panels51, 52 and form with said end panels a U- shaped cutout 55.

A plurality of U-shaped cutouts 56, 56 are provided at the bottom ofeach of the side panels and are of predetermined size and position.

The base 50 comprises a horizontal top surface 57 and parallel equallyspaced U-shaped channels 58, 58, traversing said base.

The bottom surface of the base 50 comprises raised horizontal portions59 and parallel equally spaced inverted U-shaped channels 60 traversingsaid base in alignment with the U-shaped channels 58, 58 provided in thetop surface of the base 50.

Cone shaped openings 61, 61 extend vertically downwardly from theU-shaped channels 58 to the inverted U-shaped channels 60 and are spacedtransversely across the base a predetermined distance apart.

Corner frame supports 62 are provided at the join-der of each end paneland side panel and extend vertically upwards to the level of theU-shaped cutout provided at the top edge of the side panels. The bottomedge of the side panels and end panels is joined to the base at the toplevel of the inverted U-shaped channels 60 so that the raised horizontalportions 59 extend downwardly below the level of the bottom edge of saidside panels and end panels.

A modified form of my invention, illustrated in FIG- URES 13 to 16inclusive, comprises generally a container 70 of rectangular shapehaving end panels 71, 72 connected to side panels 73, 74, a cover 75fitted into the end panels and side panels and having tranverse ribs 76,76 spaced a predetermined distance from the ends, and a base 77 rigidlyaffixed to the end panels and side panels at a predetermined distancefrom the bottom thereof.

The base 77 is of rectangular shape and has transverse grooves 78, 78spaced a predetermined distance apart and containing vertical openings79, 79 spaced longitudinally within the grooves 78 at predeterminedintervals.

A depression 80 is disposed at the top of the end panels 71, 72 and sidepanels 73, 74 to receive the cover 75.

Cutouts are provided in the top and bottom of each side panel, thebottom cutouts being large enough to expose a predetermined area abovethe base 77.

A modified form of my cover 80, as shown in FIGURE 16 of the drawing, isof narrower thickness than the cover 4 illustrated in FIGURES 14 and 15of the drawing, respectively, and is of a size to permit its positionwithin the depression provided in the top of the container.

If the cover having transverse ribs is employed, a second container maybe deposited in alignment on top of a first container and the transverseribs will prevent the lateral movement of the second container.

If the modified form of my cover as shown in FIGURE 16 of the drawing isemployed, a second container may be vertically aligned on top of thefirst container with the bottom of the end panels and side panelsfitting into the depression removably to prevent lateral movement of thesecond container.

It is understood that various forms of my invention may be used orutilized embodying the principles of my invention, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a container of the class described including a base having asubstantially rectangular shape and having a plurality of parallelequally spaced transverse grooves and a plurality of vertical openingsspaced in each groove at a predetermined distance from each other; endpanels rigidly affixed to the base and extending below said base for apredetermined distance and having a depression positioned at the topedge thereof; side panels rigidly affixed between said end panels and tosaid base having a depression along the top edge thereof contiguous toand in horizontal alignment with the depression disposed in said endpanels, said side panels extending below said base a predetermineddistance and having a plurality of U-shaped cutouts along the top edgeand a plurality of inverse U-shaped cutouts along the bottom edgeextending a predetermined distance above the base and forming lateralopenings above said base, and a cover removably disposed in saiddepression and forming a plurality of longitudinal openings between saidcover and the U- shaped cutouts on the top edge of the side panels.

2. In a container of the class described including a base having asubstantially rectangular shape and having a plurality of parallelequally spaced transverse grooves and a plurality of vertical openingsspaced in each groove at a predetermined distance from each other, endpanels rigidly afiixed to the base and extending below said base for apredetermined distance and having a depression positioned at the topedge thereof, side panels rigidly affixed between said end panels and tosaid base and extending below said base a predetermined distance havinga depression along the top edge thereof contiguous to and in horizontalalignment with the depression positioned in said end panels and having aplurality of U- shaped cutouts along the top edge and a plurality ofinverse U-shaped cutouts along the bottom edge, said cutouts extendingabove said base for a predetermined distance, and a cover ofsubstantially rectangular shape removably positioned in said depressionand forming lateral openings between said cover and the U-shaped cutoutspositioned along the top edge of said side panels.

3. In a container of the class described including a base having asubstantially rectangular shape and having a plurality of parallelequally spaced transverse grooves and a plurality of vertical openingsspaced in each groove at a predetermined distance from each other, endpanels rigidly affixed to the base and extending below said base for apredetermined distance and having a depression positioned at the topedge thereof, side panels rigidly afiixed between said end panels and tosaid base and extending below said base a predetermined distance havinga depression along the top edge thereof contiguous to and in horizontalalignment with the depression disposed in the end panels and having aplurality of U-shaped cutouts along the top edge and a plurality ofinverse U- shaped cutouts along the bottom edge, said cutouts extendingabove said base for a predetermined distance, and a cover ofsubstantially rectangular shape removably disposed in said depressionand forming a plurality of lateral openings below said cover with theU-shaped cutouts disposed in the top edge of the side panels.

4. In a container of the class described including a base ofsubstantially rectangular shape having a plurality of parallel equallyspaced transverse grooves and a plurality of vertical openings spaced ineach groove at a predetermined distance from each other and traversingsaid base, end panels extending upwardly from the short sides of therectangular base, side panels rigidly aflixed between said end panelsabove the long sides of the rectangular base having a center sectionextending upwardly in horizontal alignment with the top edge of the endpanels and extending downwardly to the base and rigidly aflixed thereto,said end panels and side panels forming a depression about the top edgeof the end panels and the center section of the side panels and saidside panels forming longitudinal openings above the longitudinal sidesof the base on each side of the lower extension of the center section ofthe side panels, and a cover removably disposed in said depression.

5. In a container of the class described in claim 4 hereof in which eachside panel is of narrower widths than each end panel having ends and acenter section of equal Width as each end panel, each center sectionhaving an upper extension in horizontal alignment with the top edge ofthe end panels and having an L-shaped depression therein in horizontalalignment with the depression in said end panels and a lower extensionaffixed to the longitudinal edge of'the base and forming longitudinalopenings between the base and the side panels between the ends of theside panel and the lower extension of the centersection of the panel ofeach side panel and having a cover removably disposed in said depressionand forming longitudinal openings between the end sections and thecenter section of each side panel.

6. A container of the class described including a pair of substantiallyrectangular vertically disposed end panels each having a top edge and alongitudinal L-shaped depression extending from the center of each endpanel to one side thereof; a pair of side panels of substantiallyrectangular shape and vertically disposed of narrower widths than theend panels and rigidly affixed to and between said end panels so as toform a rectangular openin-g therewith, each side panel having enlargedend section in alignment with the top edge of the adjacent end panel andenlarged center section having an upper extension in horizontalalignment with the top edge of said end panel and a lower extension inhorizontal alignment with the lower edge of said end panel, said upperextension and ends of said side panels in horizontal alignment with thetop edge of said end panels having an L-shaped depression in alignmentwith the L-shaped depression in said end panels; a base suspendedbetween and rigidly afiixed to and between said side panels and endpanels a predetermined distance from the lower edge of said panels so asto form longitudinal openings between said base and the ends and centersections of the side panels, said base having a plurality of transverseopenings extending through said base; and a cover removably disposed inthe depression provided by the end and side panels and forming alongitudinal opening between said cover and each end and center sectionof each side panel respectively.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,781,825 11/ 1930 Stoddard.1,987,764 1/ 1935 Walker. 2,064,518 12/ 193 6 Brogden 220974 X 2,695,11511/1954 Roop 220-97 X 2,974,819 3/ 1961 Melville. 3,182,856 5/1965 Goltz22097 FOREIGN PATENTS 751,244 8/1933 France. 1,135,105 4/1957 France.1,167,061 11/1958 France.

799,792 '8/1958 Great Britain.

502,923 12/ 1954 Italy.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Examiner.

1. IN A CONTAINER OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED INCLUDING A BASE, HAVING ASUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLELEQUALLY SPACED TRANSVERSE GROOVES AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL OPENINGSSPACED IN EACH GROOVE AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER; ENDPANELS RIGIDLY AFFIXED TO THE BASE AND EXTENDING BELOW SAID BASE FOR APREDETERMINED DISTANCE AND HAVING A DEPRESSION POSITIONED AT THE TOPEDGE THEREOF; SIDE PANELS RIGIDLY AFFIXED BETWEEN SAID END PANELS AND TOSAID BASE HAVING A DEPRESSION ALONG THE TOP EDGE THEREOF CONTIGUOUS TOAND IN HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE DEPRESSION DISPOSED IN SAID ENDPANELS, SAID SIDE PANELS EXTENDING BELOW SAID BASE A PREDETERMINEDDISTANCE AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF U-SHAPED CUTOUTS ALONG THE TOP EDGEAND A PLURALITY OF INVERSE U-SHAPED CUTOUTS ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGE EXTENDING A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE ABOVE THE BASE AND FOMING LATERAL OPENINGSABOVE SAID BASE, AND A COVER REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID DEPRESSION ANDFORMING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL OPENINGS BETWEEN SAID COVER AND THEUSHAPED CUTOUTS ON THE TOP EDGE OF THE SIDE PANELS.